Around Town

Community Preservation Committee Looks to Get Process Rolling

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The committee chosen to oversee the money raised by the Community Preservation Act in Watertown will be hiring a consultant and a part-time coordinator to educate the public and help figure out how the money will be distributed. Watertown voters approved the CPA in November 2016, and the property tax surcharge brings in about $2 million a year, plus the state will chip in matching funds (19 percent in Fiscal Year 2019). The money can be used on a variety projects, but they must relate to at least one of three areas: affordable housing, open space/recreation or historic preservation. At least 10 percent of the funds must be spent on, or saved in a fund for, each of the three areas. Elodia Thomas, chair of the Community Preservation Committee, said that she hopes that residents will become excited about the possibilities for the Community Preservation Act funds.

Real Estate

Busy Weekend of Open Houses in Watertown

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See all the properties hosting open houses around Watertown. $429,000 – 61 Lexington St., 6 room, 1 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, single-family home, Open Houses: Saturday 10-12 Sunday 12-1

$589,900 – 2 Angela Lane Unit 2, 5 room, 2 bedroom, 2 full & 1 half bathroom, Townhouse condo/townhouse, Open House: Sunday 12-2

$699,000 – 52 Gleason, 7 room, 4 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, Cape single-family home, Open Houses: Saturday 11-2 Sunday 11-2

$749,900 – 56 Bartlett St. Unit 56, 7 room, 3 bedroom, 2 full & 1 half bathroom, Townhouse condo/townhouse, Open House: Saturday 1-3

$799,000 – 37 Bates Road Unit 37, 7 room, 3 bedroom, 2 full & 1 half bathroom, Townhouse condo/townhouse, Open House: Saturday 11:30-1

$719,000 – 31 Harrington St. Unit 31, 6 room, 3 bedroom, 3 full & 1 half bathroom, Townhouse condo/townhouse, Open House: Saturday 11-1

$369,000 – 5 Repton Cir. Unit 5405, 2 room, 1 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, Mid-Rise condo/townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 11-12:30 Sunday 12-2

$589,000 – 23 Boyd Unit 1, 5 room, 3 bedroom, 1 full & 1 half bathroom, Half-Duplex condo/townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 11:30-1 Sunday 11:30-1

$649,000 – 23 Boyd Unit 2, 6 room, 3 bedroom, 2 full bathroom, Half-Duplex condo/townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 11:30-1 Sunday 11:30-1

$679,000 – 44 Gilbert, 6 room, 3 bedroom, 1 full & 1 half bathroom, Colonial single-family home, Open Houses: Saturday 1:30-3 Sunday 1:30-1

$660,000 – 55 Buick St., 7 room, 3 bedroom, 1 full & 1 half bathroom, single-family home, Open Houses: Saturday 11-12:30 Sunday 1:30-3

Sponsored by:

$569,900 – 7 Yukon Ave., 7 room, 4 bedroom, 2 full bathroom, Colonial single-family home, Open Houses: Saturday 1:30-3 Sunday 1:30-3

$835,000 – 9 Chandler St.

Around Town

Design of Watertown’s Elementary Schools Taking Shape

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A view of the approved addition to Lowell School, seen on the right, which has tall windows, including on the corners. The designs of Watertown’s three elementary school projects solidified Wednesday night, with the School Building Committee selecting its preferred options for Lowell School, and they got previews of the two new schools at Hosmer and Cunniff. While the Hosmer and Cunniff schools will get brand new schools, Lowell School will undergo a major renovation, plus a large addition will be made to the east side of the building. This area will include the library/media center. The look of the addition to the Lowell School was the big sticking point at the Committee’s previous meeting, with members splitting evenly over the two choices.

Police/Fire

Police Looking to ID Suspect Seen Looking into Watertown Home

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The young man suspected of peering into the backdoor of a Watertown home. He was chased by the homeowners, whom he threatened. Watertown Police seek a suspect who was spotted looking into the back door of a home on Edward Road, and was chased to a nearby store. On July 18, 2019 at about 3:30 p.m., a resident pulled into his driveway and saw a young man standing at his backdoor. The resident yelled at the suspect, who jumped about 6 feet off the back step.

Around Town

School Committee Gives Superintendent Good Evaluation

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Dede Galdston, current assistant superintendent in Billerica, interviewed for the Watertown Superintendent’s job Monday night. Superintendent Dede Galdston received good marks from the School Committee in the evaluation of her second year as the head of the Watertown Public Schools. The School Committee gave Galdston ratings of “proficient” across the board for her overall rating from the seven School Committee members. The ratings required by the state have four levels, from “unsatisfactory” to “exemplary” with proficient second highest. Galdston was also measured on how well she met the six goals agreed to by the School Committee and herself earlier this year.

Sports

Watertown Runner Wins 5-Mile Race in Maine

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A Watertown woman took home the title at the 38th annul Clam Festival Classic 5-mile road race in Yarmouth, Maine. Darby Middlebrook, 23, of Watertown won the women’s race in a time of 31 minutes 14 seconds, according to the Portland Press Herald. She beat the second place female finisher by 11 seconds. See the full results here.

Around Town

Treaty of Watertown, Signed in 1776, Still Has Power Today

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As part of the Treaty Day Celebration on July 20, Governor’s Councilor Marilyn Petitto Devaney from Watertown received a medal from Henry Bear, a representative of the Maliseet tribe. The Treaty of Watertown, the oldest treaty made by the United States with a foreign power, was signed in 1776, but the agreement with Indian tribes in the U.S. and Canada still holds sway in 2019. On Saturday, the Historical Society of Watertown celebrated the annual Treaty Day, marking the anniversary of the signing of the first Treaty between Massachusetts and the Mi’kmaq and Maliseet (also called the St. John’s) tribes on July 19, 1776. The primary focus of the Treaty for the young U.S. was to have a military ally against the British, but it also provided rights for the tribes over land and fisheries in what is now Maine and Canada.

Around Town

Find Out About Watertown’s New Electricity Plans at Upcoming Meetings

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The Town of Watertown will host a series of informational sessions about the new Electricity Choice program, which has a deadline in August. The Town of Watertown provided the following information:

If you have questions regarding Watertown’s Electricity Choice Program, there are four upcoming opportunities for face-to-face question and answer periods. The schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, July 24,  2:30-6:30 p.m. at the Watertown Farmers Market (Saltonstall Park) – booth for questions Saturday, July 27 noon at the Watertown Free Public Library – formal presentation / Q&A Thursday, Aug. 1, 7:00 p.m. at the Watertown Free Public Library – formal presentation / Q&A  Tuesday, Aug. 6, 10:00 a.m. at the Watertown Senior Center – formal presentation / Q&A  

The four meeting dates are all prior to the Aug.